Feed mechanism



Apl 20 1926. 1,581,524

s. w. WARDWELL FEED MECHANISM Filed nec. 29. 1920 s sheetssheet 'u Apsil20 "9262 1,581,524

s. W, WARDWELL FEED MECHANI SM Filed Dac. 29. 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 2April 20,1926. V 1,581,524

S. W. WARDWELL FEED MEcHANisM Filed Dec. 29, 1920 3 Sheets-SheetPatented Apr. Z0, 1926.

. assise/i narran armas Partnr ovarica.

SIMON Vf. W'ARDW'ELL, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE SLAND; CARL V. J'.CHRlSTENSEN,

EDWIN C. SMITH, ARTHUR A. ARIvINGTOIl", AND WILLARD VJ. BARDSLEY- EXECU-TORS OF SAID SIMON Vif. WARDVELL, DECEASED.

Application filed December 2B, 1920.

T all 107mm t may concern.

Be it known that l, SIMON lV. WARD- wELL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence, State ofRhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in FeedMechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improved feed-mechanism for sewing-machines or otherapparatus of a similar nature.

One object of the invention is to provide convenient means for adjustingth-e feedmechanism with visual indicating-means for r showing the extentof the feeding-movement by indicia corresponding to the length ofstitches to be made.

Another object of the. inventionl is to provide a light-runningmechanism which may be operated with a minimum amount of power.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism constructedmainly of sheet-metal stampings and particularly adapted for economicalmanufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism having itsparts connected without screws, studs, bolts or nuts, whereby it may beassembled and disassembled without the use of tools.

Further objects of the invention are set forth in the followingspecification which describes a preferred embodiment thereof asillustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged plan view of the complet-e feed-mechanism and itsadjustment-indicating device, showing it as applied to a sewing-machine,the table of which is illustrated as being partly broken away;

Fig. 2, a side elevation of the feed-mechanism, showing the bed andtable of the sewing-machine in section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fi 3, an end elevation of the feed-mechanisnr and its adjusting-device,showing its relation to the stitch-forming or loopermechanism of thesewingzg-machine;

Fig. 4, a sectional, detail view the operating-means for thefeed-mechanism, show- ,mgits relation to the shaft of the looper saw.;

Serial No. 433,795.

Fig. 5, a detail view ofthe. adjustingmeans for the feed-mechanism;

Fig. 6, a perspective view in reduced scale of the main operatingelements of the feedmechanism;

Fig. 7, a similar view showing the con.- nections between thefeed-mechanism and the adjusting-device;

Fig. 8, a perspective view of the presserf foot and needle-bar of thesewing-machine shown in connection withk the feed-indicating mechanismor length-of-stitch indicia; and

Figs. 9, 10 and 11, detail views of the feed-mechanism showingprogressive steps in the operation ofthe feeding-element.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 8 of the draw.- ings, 3 designates the bedor lower frameportion of a sewing-machine head and 4 is the cover-plateor work-table which overlies its top. The bed 3 is providedl with acompartment or casing 5 at its forward end, see Fig. 3, within which islocated the looperhowl 6 and itsl associated feed-mechanism.

vrlhe cover-plate or table 4L lis preferably constructed of sheet-metalwith a rolled-over flange 7 depending from its edges, and projectinginwardly from the fiange are springfingers 8 and a strip 9, see Figs. 1and 2, which hold the cover down to the bed 3; At one side the strip 9is hooked under a horizontal rib or ledge 10 on the side of the bed 3;while at the opposite side are the fingers 8 formed with curled-overends adapted to snap under the beveled edge of a Asecond ledge or rib11.

The feed-mechanism and its adjusting'- device, to which the presentinvention more particularly relates, are assembled on a sheet-metalframe 121- which sits within the compartment or casing 5 in the bed 3.In general, the frame 14- comprises a vertical back-plate or strut 15provided with forwardly-extending side-members or vertical arms 1.6. Thearms 16 are formed with hori- Zontal wings 17 bent outwardly at the topto adapt them to seat in slots 1,8, see Figs. 1 and 2, cut into thesid-e walls of the Acasing 5. Extending across the frame between theside-arms 16 is a bridge-member 19 having a raised or upset rectangularsection 20 which is received in opening 21 in the maia @oven-plate ertable e te a; te

constitute the needle-plate of the machine, see Figs. 2, 3 and 3. rlhebridge-member 19 is attached to the side-arms 1G et the iframe 14 bymeans of downwardly-extending legs 22 inserted through apertures 23 inthe wings 17, see Fig. 1. lrt the lower ends ol the legs 22 are lugs 24adapted to snap into openings 25 in the sides ot the arms 13, see Figs.2, 6 and 7. As a further connectingand reinforcing-means between thebridge-member 19 and frame 14, suitable ears 26 are bent down `from thetop of the bridge to engage the inner sides ot the arms 16. The frame 14has a lug 27, see Fig. 3, bent down 'from a cut out portion 23 at thecenter ot its back-plate 15 and adapted to seat in a slot 29 in the rearwall ot' the casing 5, see Fig. 6, to hold the traine laterally ot thebed 3. Through this arrangement the bridge-member 19 is securely unitedto the frame 14, whilethe trame itseli;I is held suspended from the sidewalls of the casing 5- and prevented from rising out of place by thecover-plate 4 which sets down against the bridge with the raisedneedle-plate 2O litting its opening 21.

Arranged to reciprocate beneath the needle-plate 2O is a feed-plate 30carrying the toothed feed-dogs 31 and 32. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2,the feed-plate 30 is of substantially rectangular outline in plan view,being constructed of sheet-metal and cut away at the center to reducethe weight. On the opposite sides and at one end of the cut-out sectionof the plate 30 the metal is left in the form of projeotino tabs whichare bent upwardly to provide tlie dogs 31 and 32. The two oppositeside-dogs 31 are formed by bending the metal of the tabs upwardly fromthe edge or" the plate 30 in a vertical plane and then bending itontwardly again in a` horizontal plane, see Fig. 3; while the end tab isbent upwardly at an acute angle and then extended outwardly in theraised dog` 32, sce Fig. 10. The upper or gripping faces of the dogs 31and 32 are stamped or scored to provide sharppointed ratchet teeth 33.es shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the feed-dogs 31 and 32 project upwardlythrough suitable slots or openings 34 in the needle-plate 20, the slotsbeing ofA suticient length to allow the dogs to reciprocatelongitudinally therein. Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, the endfeedflog 32 is arranged to oscillate back-and-forth beneath the heel ofthe presser-foot F, while the two opposite side-dogs 31 coact with theorwardly-extending toes of the presser-toot at either side of the needleN. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the needle N is carried by thevertically-reciprocating needle-bar B and reciprocates up and downthrough a small aperture in the needle-plate 20. As these last-namedelements of the sewing-machine form no part of the present improvement,however, they are not herein shown and described in detail.

Referring again to Figs. 1 and 2, (he 'feedplate 3() is hingedlyconnected at its ends with a pair of rocker-arms 35 which are pivotallysuspended in such a manner as to provide for a iourway motion oif theiieeddogs as later more lully explained. As shown in Fig. 1, theiieed-plate 30 .is formed at either end with two parallel arins 33 whichare curled around to provide bearings 39 for receiving pivot-pins 40connecting them with the rocker-arms 35, see Figs. 2 and 5. hepivotepins 40 are inserted through ears 41 bent at right-angles to theplane of the arms 35 land adapted to overlie the ends ot the bearings39. Referring particularly to Fig. 5, the pivot-pins 40 vare bent intoU-shape with parallel extensions 42 'formed somewhat like a shcpherdscrook. The extensions 42 are adapted to lie across the -face of theplate-like arms with their curved ends snapped into arcuate-shaped ears43 projecting outwardly from the arms 35. rllhe arcuate ears 43 are'formed from tabs punched out from the sheet-metal olf the rocker-arms 35and serve as cle-tents to hold the pivot-pins 40 in place while allowingfor their convenient removal to disconnect the parts. Through thisingenious construction the usual rivets, screws or like threaded partsare dispensed with and considerable machine-work is eliminated.

The lower ends ot the rocker-arms 35 are pivotally connected to a pairof opposite supporting-arnis 45 through a similar arrangement ofbearing-joints. On the arms 45 are upstanding ears 45, see Fig. 2,adapted to receive pins 47 inserted through apertured ears 48 at thelower ends ot' the roelrerar1ns 35. The pins 47 are formed with crooks49, see Fig. 5, engaging arcuate ears 50 on the arms 35 to hold them inplace.

'The supporting-arms 45 consist or' strips o' sheet-metal formed at oneend with apertured ears 54, see Fig. 2, for receiving wire pivot-pinswhich connect the arms to the trame 14. As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5, t3and 7, the pivot-pins 55 are inserted through holes 5G at the ends orarms 57 reaching inwardly from the vertical side-arms 16 of the frame14. The inner ends of the pivot-pins 55 project through suitable holesin the backplate or cross-strut 15 of the frame 14, while theirouterends are continued in the parallel extensions 58 which reach aroundthe sides of the traine-members 1G. The evtensions 53 of the pins 55 areformed with crooks 59 at their ends adapted to snap into slittedopenings GO, see Figs. 5 and 7, on the sides 16 of the trame 14. 1n thisway the pivot-pins 55 are held in place in their bearings while beingeasily removable to disconnect the parts supported thereby.

The pins 55 also serve as pivots for two opposite sets of' links 68 and6d on which is mounted a reciprocablc crosshead 65 connected toreciprocate the feed-plate 39. The links 63 andv 6dare disposed in pairsat opposite endsof the crosshead 65 as shown in Fig. l. Viewed as inFig. 5, the left-hand link of each pair abuts the side of the lefthandear 5410i* the ai'1n4l5,while the righthand link is spaced aparttherefrom and held in al slot 66 in'` the arm t5 to adapt its aperturedlower end to receive the pivotpin 55, see Fig. 6. The left-hand link ofeach pair is provided with a lug or toe 67, see Fig. 5, bentl over' fromits lower end and adapted to bear against the front of the back-plate lof the frame l-L to space the link at a distance therefrom. Referring toFigs. 9 to 1l, the links 63 of the right-hand pair are simply straightstrips or bars of sheet-metal, but those of the-left-hand pair 64, areof arcuate shape with a curved slot 68 extending throughout theirlength. The curved double-link 6ft; serves as the means for connectingthe crosshead 65 with the feed-plate in the manner of the familiarlink-motion of a. steam engine. For this purpose the arcuate slot 68 isadapted to receive a` roller 69 mounted on the end otan arm or rod 79,which is pivoted at its opposite endon the pin 49. The pivot-pin llO, asbefore explained, constitutes the hinge or support for the feed-plate39v which is mounted on the rocker-arm 85.

The reciprocating crosshead A is conr strueted from sheet-metal in theform of a vertical plate having a horizontal ledge or iiange 76 bentforwardly from its upper edge. The flange 76 is extended at the ends toprovide overhangingears which are curled around to form circularbearings 77 and 78, see Figs. l and 2. The two links 63 abut the sidesof the bearing 77 at one end of the crosshead 65 and are connectedthereto by means of a pivot 79; while at the opposite end the bearing 78 is pivoted between suitable ears on the double-link 64 by means of apin 80. The depending plate-portion of the crosshead 65 is cut away atits center to provide two parallel, forked arms 8l. Referringparticularly to Fig. t, the inner sides of the arms 8l are provided withvertical flanges bent forwardly and then inwardly at 88 to provideguideways for a slidable shoe 85. The shoe is constructed from arelatively narrow strip of sheet-metal bent into inverted U-shape withits opposite, parallel: legs fitted to the flanged guideways 82 on thecrosshead `65.

Referring now to Figs. 2, 3 and d, the shoe isheld in place in theguideways 82 with its rearward edge abutting the front face of a hub 86on the base or f 1aine 3. The hub 86 forms a part of the bearing for ahorizontal power-shaft 87 enclosed in a tubular shaft 89 which operatesthe feed-mechanism. Re

ferring particularly to Fig. 8, the base or frame of the machine is madein twohalves dividedl on the vertical plane of the axis of the shaft 87.In this view the drawing illust ates thevertical face of one section ofthe frame 8 which fits againstthe corresponding` face of itscomplemental section with the two halves held together by cross-pins orrivets 88. The two halves of the frame 3 are bored axially of the hub 86and fitted to turn in the bore is the tubular shaft 89 surrounding themain shaft 87. rllhe main shaft 87k projects beyond the end of thetubular shaft 89 to adapt it to receive the hub 99 of the spool-bowly orlooper 6 which is fastenedI thereto by a cross-pin 91. vThe tubularshaft 89 extends beyond the outer end of its bearing-hub 86 and carriescam 95 secured rotatively therewith by means of a pin 96. Referring toFigs. 2, 9, 19 and ll, the cam is formed with an arcuate peripheral face97 disposed concentric with its axis and with two opposite curved faces98 arranged eccentric thereto. Each of the faces 97 and 98extendsthrough 99 'degrees and the eccentric faces 98 merge in aconcentric face99 of considerably less radius extending through the remaining 99degrees. The complete contour of the cam 95 is enclosed lby thelJ-shap'ed shoe 85 with all three sides. thereof bearing constantly onthe several faces of the cam. The main shaft 87.

is rotated to drive the bowl or looper 6 and the tubular shaft 89is-driven independent-ly thereof at a slower rate of speed to rotate thecaml 95. As the cam rotates with its several faces making contact withthe three sides of the slide or shoe 85 the` shoe will be oscillatedlaterally1 in relation to the axis of the cam to reciprocate thecrosshead 65 in a horizontal path. The rotation of the cam 95 will! alsoimparta. vertical reciprocation to the shoe 85 to slide the latter upand down in its guideways on4 the crosshead 65, see Figs. 9 to ll. Itwill be noted from these views that the hinged arms l5 which carry thepivots for the feed-plate rocker-arms 85 are formed with extensions 199which rest on the top of the shoe 85. Referring to Fig. 6` thesupporting arms 45 are cut away at the front and bent upwardly and thenoutwardly in the relatively narrow lingers or extensions 199 whichproject across the top of the shoe 85 and rest thereon. It will thus beseen that as the shoe 85 is raised and lowered on the cross-head 65under the action of the cam 95 it will cause a corresponding rise andfall of the arms 45. The effect of this motion is to raise and lower thefeed -plate 8() at the ends of its traverse whereby to impart thedesired four-way motion to the feed-dogs 3l and 32 during theirreciprocation. This motion is illustrated progressively in Figs. 9 to lland will` be explained more in detail in connection `with the method ofoperation of the complete device. 4

lt has been explained above that reciprocation is imparted to thefeed-plate from the double-link 64 connected to the end of the crosshead65. rEhe oscillating motion of the link 54 is communicated tothefeed-plate 30through the connecting-rod 70 joined to the right-hand endof the plate by the pivotpin 40, see Fig. rl`he means for adjusting theextent of movement ofthe feed-plate 30 consists of a device for varyingthe point of connection of the connecting-rod 70 on the linklist withrespect to the axis of oscillation of the latter. For this purposemanually-operable ii'icans are provided for shifting the roller 69,carried at the end of the rod 71 .in the slot (i8 of the link`64; itbeing obvious that as the roller is moved toward the lower pivot or axisof oscillation of the link (i4 the motion in'iparted through the rod 70will be decreased; while as the roller is moved away from the anis ofthe link the length of its stroke is increased. l

Referring particularly to Fig. 7, the means for adjusting the roller 69in the slot f 68 of the link 64 consists essentially of an arm or lever105 pivoted at one end on a pin or rivet 106 which is secured in an ear107 on the back-plate 15 of the `frame 14. The lever 105 is offset atits opposite end and formed with a slot 108 adapted to receive the .endof the roller G9 which projects through the slot 68 in the link 64,- seealso Fig. 5. The lever 105 is also provided with an inclined slot 109 atits center adapted to be engaged by a projection or lug 110 on amanually-adjustable slide 111, see Fig. 7. The adjusting-slide 111consists of a flat strip of sheet-metal overlying the top of ahorizontal shelf or rest 112 projecting rearwardly from the back-plate15 of the frame 14. At its forward edge the slide 111 is formed with adepending rim or flange 113 abutting. the front of the frame-member 15and provided with the lug` 110 projecting outwardly therefrom into theslot 109 in the lever 105. The rearward edge of the adjusting-plate orslide 111 is also bent downwardly in a flange 114, see Fig. 5, abuttingthe rear edge of the shelf 112 of the frame 14 and cooperating with theforward flange 113 to guide the movement of the slide thereon. A pair ofspring fingers 115, see Figs. 1 and 3, reach forwardly from the rearliange114 and bear at their ends on the under side of the rest 112 tohold the slide 111 down thereon while also providing .a slight frictionto resist its movement. The movement of the slide 111 back and forth onits rest 112 is limited at each end by the lug 110 striking against theends of the slot 109 in the lever 105. At` one end of the slide 111 isan arm 11()I terminating in a finger-piece 117 bent downwardly acrossthe rearward edge of the rest 112, see Fig. 7. As shown in Fig. 1, thefinger-piece 117 is arranged just beneath the rim of the worktable 4inside its marginal flange 7 so as to be out of the way and protectedfrom catching in the cloth. ln this way accidental or unwarrantedmovement of the slide 111is prevented, but when it is required to changeits position to adjust the feed the finger-piece 117 is readilyaccessible by reaching in under the edge of the work-table 4. Referringto Figs. 1 and 7, the top of the slide 111 bears a panel 11S, preferablyenameled in black, with a series of indicia brought out in reliefshowing the range of adjustment of the feed. As here illustrated thepanel 118 is marked with rows of graduations 120 representing stitchesin their varying lengths,

with each line bearing a numeral indicating the length of the individualstitches, or, if preferred, the number of stitches to the inch. Theseveral lines of graduations or stitch indicia are adapted to registerindividually with a slit or mortise 121 cut through the top of the table4 as shown in Figs. 1 and 8, when the slide is` pushed back and forth toadjust the extent of feed of the mechanism. The operator thus has beforehim a visualization of the work to be performed in accordance with thevarying adjustment of the feed-mechanism. l

Having now described the construction and arrangement of my improveddevice in detail its method of operation will next be explained. Asherein shown the feed-mechanism is adapted for use in a sewing-machineand its method of functioning will therefore be explained in connectionwith the stitch-forming operation of the machine. As above noted, theinner shaft 87, carrying the looper G, and the tubular shaft 89,carrying the cam 95, are rotated at different speeds through connectionswith the main power-shaft of the machine, not herein shown. Theneedle-bar B is reciprocated from means operated by the power elementsto cause the needle to be inserted through the cloth C on the work-table4 and the shaft 87 rotates the looper 6 to cause its hook, not hereinshown, to take the loop from the needle N and cast it around the lowerthread, in the manner as well known to those versed in the art. Thepresser-foot F is held down against the cloth C with a yielding pressureto hold the material and as the needle is raised the feed-dogs 31 and 32act against this pressure to feed the cloth forward for a new insertionof the needle to complete the stitch. The rotation of the looper-shaft87 and cam-shaft 89 are synchronized to provide for the forwardoperation of the feed-mechanism as the looper is casting the loop andthe needle is being lifted above the cloth, and for this purpose the cam95 operates as shown in the progressive views,

Figs. 9, 10 and 1l. Fig. 9 illustrates the cam 95 as having carried thecrosshead 65 to theleft-hand end of its stroke and it will be noted thatthe cam is turned downward with the top of the yoke or shoe85 resting onits concentric portion 99 of least radius. The cam 95 rotates in thedirection indicated by the arrow Z), Figs. 9 to 11, and hence as itturns back from the position illustrated in Fig. 9 its eccentric face 98will act on the shoe S5 to slide the erosshead 65 to the right. Duringthis motion 4of the crosshead to the right the shoe 85 remains in itslowered position with its top resting on the reduced portion 99 of thecam, and it will be noted from Figs. 9 and 10 that the fingers 100 ofthe supporting-arms 45 for the feed-plate 30 rest on top of the shoewith their ends lowered so that the` feeddogs 31 and 32 are depressedbelow the ,top of the work-table Ll. Now, as the cam 95 turns beyond theposition shown in Fig. l0 its eccentric face 98 will come into actionagainst the top of the shoe 85 to slide the latter upwardly in itsguideways. Meanwhile, the high point of the cam will have passedupwardly from the side of the shoe and the concentric face 97 will havecome into engagement therewith. As the concentric face 97 of the cam 95engages one side of the shoe S5 the opposite reduced concentric face 99rides onto the opposite side of the shoe and consequently at thisjuncture there will be no lateral motion imparted to thesho-e. Statedbriefly, after the cam'95 has carriedthe crosshead to the end of itsthrow the concentric portions 97 and 99 of the cam come into engagementwith the opposite sid-esof the shoe and the crosshead will thereforeremain at rest while the cam turns through the next degrees of itsrotation. It will be understood, of course, that the rotation of the camis continuous and as it turns through this last 90 degrees its eccentricface 98 will act on the top of the shoe S5 to raise the latter from theposition shown in Fig. l0 to that sho-wn in Fig. ll. The elevation ofthe shoe S5 raises the fingers at the ends of the supporting-arms Ll5and as a consequence therpivots 40 of the rocker-arms 35 are lifted todisplace the rocker-arms bodily in an upward direction. rlhe lifting ofthe rocker-arms 35 raises the feed-plate 30 to a higher horizontal planeand the feed-dogs 3l and 32 are projected through the openings 34 in thework-table e to engage them with the cloth C to be'fed, see Fig. 2. Inthis way the teeth 33 on the feed-dogs are caused to bite into the clothwhich is heldfrom raising by the presserfoot F. Now as the cam 95continues'to turn in the same direction its eccentric face 98 will rideoff kfrom the top ofthe shoeu85 while the concentric face 97 engagestherewith, -The shoe S5 will thus be supportedin its raised positionduring the movementfof the cam through the next 90 degrees of itsrotation and the .feed-plate V30 will yconsequently be maintained withits dogs 3l and 32 raised above the work-table 4i while itis traversedto the left to feed the cloth forward under the ,presser-foot F. Theforward movement of the feed-,plate 30 iseffected from the `motion ofthecrosshead '65 as the latter is carried back to the left'by the actionofthe cam face 98 on the shoe 85, see Fig. ll. lt has before beenexplained that the crosshead 65 is vconnected directly to thedouble-link Gli at 80, while the connecting-rod 70, in turn, is coupledto the feed-plate 30 `at 40, see Figs. 1 and 2. It will thus be seenthat as the double-.link 64 is rocked back and forth from the crosshead65 it will move the feed-plateBO first inone direction and then in theother `with a pause A at either end of its stroke. The intervals betweenthe strokes of the feed-plate .occur while the crosshead remains at restduring the engagement of the concentric portions 97 and 99 of the cam 95with the sidesof the shoe 85. The cycle of operations Vofthe cam isdivided into four parts as `defined Vby the several faces Vof `90degrees extent on'its periphery. `Referring to Fig. 9, with the parts inthe position as here shown the f ject its dogs through the worktable 4:;and

at the next quarter rotation ofthe cam the crosshead 65 is moved back tothe yleft ,to

traverse the feed-plate to feed the cloth. VAt

the completion of this last quarter rotation the concentric faces 97 and99 of the cam again come into engagement with the sides of the shoe S5and the crossheadrernains `-at rest while the sho-e is lowered vto first`position asshown in Fig. 9. Thelowering of the shoe 85 allows the arms45 to drop Vto lower the feed-plate 30 to remove its feeddogs fromcontact with the cloth so 'that at the next traverse of the plate `thedogs will be carried back to take a new grip on. the material. The abovecycle of operations vis continued to provide the intermittent orstep-by-step feed and as'before noted Vthe extent of feed at each stepmay be adjusted by setting the slide lll.

`.Referring to Fig. 7, as vthe slide lll is4 pushed forward, or to theleft as viewed in Fig. l, the lug l1() at its front will be slid alongthe inclined slot 109 in the arm 105 to :raise the arm about its pivot106, see .F 7.

The liftingof the arm'l05 in this manner wise, as the adjusting-plate111 is drawn back in the opposite direction its lug 110, sliding in theslot 109, will depress the lever 105 to lower the roller G9 on the link64. As the roller 69 is moved toward the axis of the link 6&1 the strokeof the link 70 is decreased in length so that the feed-plate 30 will bereciprocated with a shorter feed. In

lthis way the range of operation of the mechanism may be easily adjustedto secure any length of feed required within the prescribed limits, theresult of the adjustment or extent of feed being shown at the sightopening 121, see Fig. 8, by the indicia visible therethrough.

My improved device provides a true fourway motion for thefeeding-element with the latter traveling in right lines during theoperative and return strokes. That is to say, the feed-dogs aretra-versed in a substantially straight horizontal path from one end ofthe stroke to the other so as to be maintained in complete engagementwith they material being fed throughout the full length of the stroke.This provision prevents slip at the ends of the feeding stroke and henceinsures a much more positive and accurate feed. Furthermore, thefeed-dogs are engaged with and released from the material with aright-line movement during .their intervals of rest at the ends of eachhorizontal stroke so that they are less liable pulling or cutting thethreads.

The improved adjusting-means for the feed provides for its accuratecontrol within wide limits; and the adjustment-indicating device is ofgreat convenience for setting the machine for different lengths ofstitches. Moreover all of the adjListing-mechanism is hidden andprotected from outside interference, yet easily accessible for manualmanipulation.

Particular attention is directed to the lightness and ease of operationof the parts of the device whereby power is economized and high-speedrunning of the machine secured. In addition, the novel and ingeniousstructure of the parts and the methodV of mounting and connecting themprovides yfor economical manufacture while also allowing the mechanismto be assembled :without the use of screws, nuts, bolts, or

other threaded parts.

Various modifications in structure and arrangement of the parts of theimproved device could be made without departing said feeding-element, asecond set of hinged y arms to which the rocker-arms are pivoted, a cam,means engaging the periphery of the cam to oscillate the feeding-elementon its rocker-arms, and means reciprocated from said cam to periodicallyraise and lower the opposite hinged arms to bodily move the rocker-armsto eieot engagement of the feeding-element with the'material to be fedand to cause its withdrawal from contact therewith.

2. In a feed-mechanism, the combination with a feeding-element, ofrocker-arms for supporting the opposite ends of the feedingelement toadapt it to be oscillated substantially horizontally thereon, a cam,means engaging the cam and connecte-d to oscillate the feeding-element,a. pair of hinged arms pivoted on opposite sides of the cam andpivotally connected to the rocker-arms, and means reciprocated rfrom thecam and engaging the ends of the two hinged arms to periodically raiseand lower the latter to carry the feeding-element into engagement withand remove it from contact with the material to be fed. v i

3. In a feed-mechanism, the combination with a feeding-element, ofrocker-arms lpivotally connected to the opposite ends of saidfeeding-element, a cam, arms hinged at opposite sides of the cam andpivotally connected to the rocker-arms, means engaging the cam andconnected to oscillate the feeding-element, and means operated from thecam and engaging with the ends of both of the hinged arms to raise andlower the latter to cause the feeding-element to be periodicallydisplaced to engage it with and disengage it from the material to befed.

4. In a feed-mechanism, the combination with a feeding-element, ofrocker-arms pivotally connected to the opposite ends of saidfeeding-element, a cam, a crosshead reciprocatcd horizontally from saidcam, means connecting the crosshead to oscillate the feeding-element,arms hinged at opposite sides of the cam and pivotallyk counected withthe rocker-arms, and means reciprocated vertically from said cam andengaging beneath the opposite ends of the hinged arms to periodicallyraise and lower the feeding-element to engage it with and disengage itfrom the material being fed.

5. In a feed-mechanism, the combination with a feeding-element, ofopposite rockerarms connected to the ends of said feedingelement, aslidable crosshead connected with the feeding-element, a cam forreciprocating the crosshead, arms hinged on opposite sides of the camand pivotally connected to the rocker-arms, and means reciprocated vertically from the cam and arranged beneath the ends of the hinged arms toperiodically raise and lower the latter to displace the feedingelementto engage it with and disengage it from the material to be fed.

6. In a feed-mechanism, the combination with a feeding-element, ofrockerarms for supporting the feeding-element, hinged arms pivotallysupporting the rocker-arms on opposite sides of the cam, a reciprocable.

arms, a. horizontal'feed-plate connected toA the upper ends of therocker-arms, and means connecting said feed-plate to be oscillated fromthe crosshead.

8. In a feed-mechanism, the combination of a feeding-element, of meansto oscillate the feeding-element, means for adjusting the extent ofoscillation of the feeding-element, slide for operating theadjusting-means, al series of indicia on the slide for indicating theextent of feed of the feeding-element, and a cover overlying the slideand provided with a sight-opening with which the various indiciaregister as the slide is shifted to operate the adjusting-means.

9. In a feed-mechanism, the combination with a feeding-element, of meansto oscillate the feeding-element, means to adjust the extent ofoscillation of the feeding-element, means for setting theadjusting-means, a panel on the settinguneans bearing a series of brokenlines representing rows of stitches of varying lengths corresponding tothe different lengths of stroke of the feeding-element a provided by thedifferent degrees of adjustment, and means overlying the panel andprovided with a sight-opening through which the various representationsof the stitches are made visible one at a time as the panel is shiftedduring the adjust ment of the setting-means. l 10. In a feed-mechanism,the combination with a feeding-element, of means to oscillate thefeeding-element, means to adjust the length of stroke of thefeedingelement, means for setting the adjusting-means, a series ofindicia consisting of broken lines representing rows of stitches ofdifferent lengths corresponding to the various lengths of stroke ofthefeeding-means, and means adapted to register with the differentindicia under the adjustment of the settingmeans to display one line at`a time in accordance with the adjustment while concealing the otherindicia.

11. In a sewing-machine, the combination with the feed-mechanismthereof, of means to adjust the extent of the feed, means bearingindicia consisting of broken lines representing rows of stitches ofdifferent lengths to indicate the effect of the adjustment of thefeed-mechanism, and means overlying the indicia-bearing mea-ns andprovided with a. sight-opening through which a single line of theindicia is exhibited while the other lines are concealed from View.

12. In a sewing-machine, the combination with a work-table having asight-opening therein, of a feed-mechanism beneath the work-table, meansto actuate the feed-mechanism, means to adjust the extent of feed of thefeed-mechanism, a plate slidable beneath the table and connected tooperate the feedadjusting means, and indicia on the plate consisting ofbroken lines representing a series of stitches of varying lengths, saidindicia adapted to register individually with the sight-opening in thetable as the plate is shifted toeect the adjustment of the feed.

13. In a feed-mechanism, the combination with a. feeding-element, ofrocker-arms for supporting the feeding-element to adapt it to oscillatethereon, apertured bearings on the feeding-element and rocker-arms,pivotpins inserted through said bearings, said pins formed withshepherd-crooks overlying the sides of the arms, and means on the armsfor releasably grasping the ends of the crooks to hold Vthe pins inplacein their bearings.

14. In a feed-mechanism, the combination with a feeding-element, ofrocker-arms for supporting the feeding-element to adapt it to oscillatethereon, apertured bearings on the feeding-element and rocker-arms,pivotpins inserted through said bearings, said pins bent back to overliethe arms and provided with crooks at their ends, and arcuate lugsprojecting from the sides of thearms to adapt the crooks on the pins tobe sprung into engagement therewith to retain the pins in place.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

SIMON W. IVARDVVELL.

